World Religion Day has been observed on the third Sunday of January every year since 1950, and promotes peace and understanding between all religions. It also encourages people to learn about other faiths.
It was initially started by followers of the Bahá’í faith, which says that all religions have common features, and that they should be respected equally. They believe there is one God who is known by different names in all religions. Followers of the Bahá’í faith believe that all humans are born equal, and that we all have the same rights regardless of our faith.
World Religion Day aims to promote the unity of religious peoples so that we can overcome historical differences. For centuries, different religions and faiths have fought each other, and ignored their common values. The purpose of World Religion Day is to work towards a peaceful understanding between faiths.
How is World Religion Day Celebrated?
World Religion Day is celebrated in lots of ways. However, most people attend special services, which focus on respecting other religions, and reflecting on their universal message. That is, we should all treat each other with respect and understanding, so that we can create a better world for everyone.
What Are The Six Major Religions?
The six major religions of the world are Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism and Sikhism. Nearly seventy-five per cent of the world practices one of these six religions. World Religion Day promotes their similarities, and the role religion has played in uniting people across the planet.
Bristol Museums Learning team have World Faith Loan boxes for KS2 classes to explore for World Religion day. Artefacts represent the six most popular worldwide religions: Judaism, Sikhism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism. Find out more here School loan box: World Faiths – Bristol Museums
